Difficult task of uncovering true damage to capital

Thousands of tonnes of bombs and missiles of all types have rained down on Baghdad over the past 13 days. Yet establishing precisely what has been aimed at and the extent of the damage is extremely difficult.

Official statements from the coalition forces are often vague and refer to attacks on "command and leadership" targets. Television pictures look dramatic but offer few details.

The Baghdad campaign began with a limited and unexpected cruise missile attack, late on the night of 19 March, on a group of buildings in a southern suburb of the city which, according to intelligence reports, were then sheltering Saddam Hussein and his inner circle. Whether or not President Saddam was injured remains in doubt. The following night, strikes were conducted on the office of Tariq Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister.

But the most intense strikes on Baghdad began on the night of 21 March when a range of targets were pounded.

Although attacks on the capital continued over that weekend, the burning oil and sandstorm conditions in the early part of last week may have reduced their intensity.

By the middle of the week, the focus had shifted towards the propaganda and communications complexes. Last Wednesday, 26 March, the main Iraqi television station was attacked.

On Monday, the coalition launched the biggest series of raids yet: B-1, B-2 and B-52 planes launched joint attacks on "control and command centres".

Bombing continued yesterday morning, against an Iraqi presidential yacht and a former Iraqi Air Force headquarters that was being used as a club for officers and their families.